RESIDENTS of a Liverpool community say young thugs congregating at a derelict school are making their lives a misery.

Up to 50 youngsters gather at the former St Philomena's school in Fazakerley every night, claim locals, who say children as young as 10 are drinking alcohol and using cannabis before taking to the streets.

Many say they cannot sleep because of the noise, while others have had their homes and gardens vandalised.

Fire crews are regularly called to the former Long Lane school, which has been repeatedly targeted by arsonists and vandals.

One resident of Swallow Fields said he was planning to move from the area, while a neighbour said bricks were thrown through his windows and children's toys stolen from his back garden.

One homeowner said: "We are afraid to let our children into the streets.

"We can't stop these yobs from breaking into the school. Police tell us to ring whenever more than five kids gather in the area but when they turn up the kids scarper.

"We are all praying the building is demolished as soon as possible to put an end to this."

The building, which until recently housed Liverpool social services, was sold to a private developer on February 28.

Arsonists targeted it again last Wednesday, setting fire to a pile of old furniture and gutting part of the two-storey building.

Neighbourhood inspector Geoff Cheshire called for parents to work with police to tackle anti-social behaviour.

He added: "Anti-social behaviour by young people is a problem in the Swallow Fields area, but no more so than in any other area of Merseyside.

"We've been taking names of youths and writing to their parents. We would appeal for parents to know where their children are and take responsibility for them."